Despite EV push, Denver spends millions on gas-powered golf course, parks equipment

Photo byZoshua ColahonUnsplash

Despite its aggressive push of electric vehicles and its pledges toward climate sustainability, the Denver City Council on Monday spent $25 million on golf course equipment, most of it gasoline powered.

The council approved three contracts. The first is for $17 million with Pattlen Enterprises. Another is for $6.5 million with Potestio Brothers Equipment. A third contract is for $2 million with Colorado Golf and Turf Inc. Council members Sarah Parady and Shontel Lewis voted “no.” Council member Diana Romero Campbell abstained from voting on the third contract, saying she has a relative who works for the company.

Parady at the Aug. 5 meeting postponed for two weeks voting on the contracts. At that meeting, she invited state air quality experts to speak about the hazards of gasoline-powered lawn equipment. David Sabados said such devices contribute to ozone depletion. Unlike vehicles, the equipment does not have catalytic converters to mitigate air quality hazards, he pointed out. He also said the state already has outlawed cities from using small gas-powered lawn equipment such as leaf blowers. He said if the ban is extended to larger equipment such as lawnmowers the city could be left with millions of dollars in equipment that it cannot use.

Parady advocates for electrification

On Monday Parady had a lengthy exchange with Parks Director Jolon Clark, a former City Council member. She peppered him with questions about the contracts and asked whether his office had investigated rebates for electrification. She explained the Regional Air Quality Council offers equipment rebates. Clark said he was not aware of the program but would aggressively pursue every dollar. Parady suggested he do that before the city spends millions of dollars on equipment.

Parady and council member Shontel Lewis cast the only “no” votes for the contracts. Several members of the council who served with Clark vigorously defended his record on climate sustainability, including Kevin Flynn and Chris Hinds.

Parady asked Clark what he would do if the state decided to ban cities from using large gasoline-powered lawn equipment, like it did with smaller equipment. Clark said he could not speculate. He stressed that the three contracts do include some electric-powered equipment and vehicles. He said those items could not be bought without approving the contract.

Clark lists electric shortcomings

Clark ticked off a lengthy list of shortcomings of electric lawn equipment. He said the city bought one model that only lasted five years. He said for other equipment, gasoline-powered versions have attachments that do five different jobs. If you want to go electric, he said sometimes you must buy five different machines.

Clark admitted the department is not yet in compliance with the state ban on small gasoline-powered lawn equipment. He said whenever the city can buy electric and properly charge and maintain the equipment, it will if the money is there. Clark stressed that the buildings throughout the parks system aren’t all wired for electric charging of vehicles and equipment. He said he currently is working on a plan for improving electrical capabilities at the buildings but doesn’t know yet how much it will cost.

Clark mused that one piece of electrical equipment the department recently bought is cool. It is a robotic device that stripes fields for athletic play, he said.

Mowing 270 parks, golf courses

According to a memo from city staff to the council, the Parks and Recreation Department oversees 250 Denver-area parks consisting of more than 6,000 acres, approximately 13 mountain parks encompassing over 14,000 acres, and seven turf golf courses, “all of which need to be maintained with mowers and other landscaping equipment. Every park and golf course has different terrain and obstacles that need to be negotiated with the landscaping equipment.”

According to the memo, much of the city’s landscaping fleet needs to be replaced due to age. “In May, the city solicited proposals for the purchase of a variety of landscaping equipment, parts, and vehicles to maintain the diverse natural landscapes across the city’s vast acreage.”

Parady told Clark California recently banned cities from using gasoline powered lawn equipment and their golf courses still get mowed. Clark said when Denver parks don’t get mowed as often as residents are accustomed to, “the phones light up.”